Church Growth Committee

The Church Growth Committee is responsible for growth in the church. As a committee, we see church growth as two-fold. One, growing member’s faith and spirituality as individuals. Second, growing the church’s membership and relationships in the community to form strong partnerships.

Antiracism Book Club:

The Antiracism Book Club will be discussing “We Remain: Race, Racism and the Story of the American Indian” by Keith R. Burich on Sunday, October 22nd at 7:00 p.m. The zoom link for this group can be found in The Beat or ask Sue Smith to email it to you. Newcomers are welcome!

Past books include:

Black Radical: The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter by Kerri Greenidge
Love Your Enemies by Arthur Brooks
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhode
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
MLK Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
We Remain: Race, Racism, and the Story of the American Indian by Keith R. Burich, Ph.D.
Dear Church by Lenny Duncan

Gratitude Journal:

Starting in March 2023, the Church Growth Committee began “A Year of Gratitude” that challenged congregation members to reflect and ponder through various prompts. Each month there was a different theme and then each week explored a various topic within the theme. More explanation for each prompt can be found on First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville’s Facebook Page. All are welcome to participate in the gratitude journal, you do not need to be a member of the congregation. Individuals can write them down, just take a moment to think about them, or reflect however they would like.

October: Gratitude for Discovery
- October 1: Having a new experience / trying something new (food, sailing, etc)
- October 8: Discovering a new place (in your neighborhood or travel)
- October 15: Learning about a new culture
- October 22: Meeting a new person
- October 29: Discovering something about yourself
September: Gratitude for Villages
- September 3: Who is in your village?
- September 10: How are you thankful for first responders?
- September 17: How are you a helper?
- September 24: How are you thankful for kindness?
August: Gratitude for Simple Things
- August 6: What is an experience you get to share with someone else that you are thankful for?
- August 13: How are you thankful for gatherings?
- August 20: How are you thankful for animals?
- August 27: How are you thankful for your chores?
July: Gratitude for the Places We’ve Lived
- July 2: How do I show gratitude for the good parts of living in the US?
- July 9: How do my actions affect other living things?
- July 16: How have the states you’ve lived in shaped you?
- July 23: What are you grateful to find in Phoenixville, PA?
- July 30: How are you a good neighbor?
June: Gratitude for Fathers and Father Figures
- June 4: How are you thankful for laughter?
- June 11: Are there outdoor activities that you’re thankful for – past or present?
- June 18: How do you honor your father or father figures?
- June 25: Is there a freedom you are thankful for?
May: Gratitude for Mothers and Mother Figures
- May 7: How do you honor your mother/mother figures?
- May 14: How do you care for others?
- May 21: How do you care for our natural world?
- May 28: How do you advocate for others/justice?
April: Gratitude for New Life
- April 2: What new thing are you starting?
- April 9: What could you bring back to life?
- April 16: How are you nurturing yourself so you can grow?
- April 23: How do you give thanks for growing all around you?
- April 30: How can you share what you have grown?
March: Gratitude Amidst Chaos
- March 5th: What is my positive affirmation each day this week?
- March 12th: Who will I help this week?
- March 19th: What is my prayer this week?
- March 26th: How do I give thanks for chaos?

Prison Ministry:

First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville started a prison ministry in 2021.

Books Through Bars

Every third Saturday of the month, FPC visits Books through Bars to assist in the selecting and packing of books for people incarcerated in local prisons.

Support Books Through Bars

Donate books – you can drop them off at the Church office or at Books Through Bars. Click here for donation guidelines.

Alternatively, you can purchase books from their Wishlist and have them shipped to Books Through Bars 4722 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143. By ordering from Bookshop.org, you will be supporting small booksellers!

We are starting to collect 2024 calendars and also collect brown paper bags with handles (like you get from Whole Foods/Kimberton Whole Foods). You can drop these at the church office.

Queer Circle:

First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville started a Queer Circle in June 2023. Queer Circle kicked off during the 6th Annual Chester County Pride Festival with a table offering information about the church and the newly formed group. The Queer Circle hosts a Book Study with discussion centering around learning more about gender, sexual orientation, Christian faith, and related issues. They are currently reading The Book of Queer Prophets: 24 Writers on Sexuality and Religion by Ruth Hunt